Premier single-screen Payal Cinema in Jamshedpur has sweetly stolen a march over most of its multiplex rivals in the state with a 2K Barfi!
Barfi! the film needs no explanation. Anurag Basu's latest film to hit the screens worldwide on Friday, it is riding high on promos showing Ranbir Kapoor's quirky take as a special youth.
The 2K bit needs an explanation. It spells good news for cine buffs who love crystal-clear, sharp, high-resolution pictures on the big screen. Payal Cinema has entered into a lease agreement with Barco, a Belgian company, to use 2K, the standardised projection recommended by Digital Cinema Initiatives, an outfit set up by Hollywood studios.
In simple terms, it means Payal will screen 2.2 mega pixel images. Multiplexes in the state ' with the exception of the capital's Glitz that uses Barco 2K ' still use 1.3 mega pixel projections.
"We are proud to introduce cutting-edge technology for film lovers here. It is used widely abroad but is still relatively new in India. Viewers will be able to make out the crystal clear quality of picture and see the difference," said Vishal Sawa, owner of Payal Cinema.
His general manager Shourish Gupta explains how the technology works.
"For every movie, we will have a hard disk linked to the digital projector for immense picture clarity. The 2.2 mega pixel images will ensure razor-sharp images that viewers will be able to discern. We have had the trial run and we are waiting for a feedback from viewers. It would be like an LED TV," he said.
So, is Payal doing away with traditional reels? No. Flim Division fillers will still be screened using a conventional projector. And yes, it will be kept as a back-up.
Other theatres across the state use digital projection but with lower mega pixels, around 1.3.
So far, most multiplexes and theatres screen movies through UFO Moviez and Qube, a network of film providers downloaded via satellite.
Payal Cinema, set up in 1984 in the densely populated Mango, was renovated in 2010. It recently geared up to face multiplex competition with a parking area 50ft from the hall. With the 2K technology, it claims to be on a par with the country's best.
Barfi! viewers will deliver the verdict on Friday.
Are you looking forward to a sharper film viewing experience?
Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
